Woodskills

Our Woodskills team are a dedicated bunch of wood working enthusiasts, who have been very busy developing student skills and a range of products, which are sold in Cantraybridge Cafe. In 2011, the Woodskills team departed from the usual type of products it made and embarked upon a new learning experience by adding to our range of Cantraybridge social enterprises.

The most exciting thing about the Woodskills team is that they use the medium of wood work to develop and enhance all sorts of skills and learning and don’t just focus on the woodwork and joinery skills. Here are some examples of the things you can learn:

Use your wood working skills to help make products that we sell to customers

Grow your confidence and self-belief

Work as part of a team to build and finish products

Learn how to work safely with hand tools and machinery

Take team trips to places like Badaguish

Improve your communication skills

Gain an SVQ qualification

Feel satisfied at knowing you’ve been involved in the process of making, finishing and selling products to members of the public

Woodskills Enabler - David Brotherton

David’s career in architecture gave him experience in traditional methods for restoration of listed buildings. He then joined a large joinery company being responsible for development, training and expanding the manufacturing base. David returned to university where he gained his Cert Ed. He taught woodwork, ICT and maths, later being appointed Deputy Education Manager at a Lancaster College. David joined Cantraybridge College as Woodskills Enabler, Assessor and Verifier in 2015. He has been successful in negotiating with SQA to permit college to deliver the National Certificate in Craft Skills. Under David’s guidance students have converted an old farm building into their new workshop. David’s objective is to build each student’s confidence, enabling them to be involved in all every stage of their projects and to enjoy creating unique items out of timber.

Woodskills Assistant - Barney Stuart

Barney's background is in carpentry and joinery. Barney has worked on and off at Cantraybridge since 2006, enjoying teaching first maintenance and later Woodskills. Barney believes he learns as much from the students as they do from him.

Latest news from Cantraybridge

24th August 2018

Cantraybridge college, which makes a unique and important contribution to the lives of people with additional support needs, has been awarded £239,028 from the Social Economy Growth Fund to support people...